HERE IS THE LETTER AMY WILLARD SENT TO THE MESSENGER. West Virginias state aid funding formula is based on each districts student enrollment, which is used to determine the number of personel that are funded. The 55 districts in the state are divided into four categories based on student population density, with the districts having the lowest student population density receiving funding for a larger number of personnel. Morgan County falls into the medium population density category. Districts in the same category with the same number of students would be funded for the same numberof personnel. The amount of funding provided however, varies based on the experience and educational levels of the personnel actually employed by each district. Since teachers with additional years of experience and more advanced college degrees earn a higher salary, the funding formula is designed to cover those additional cost. This allows districts to encourage teachers to continue their employment and to earn higher degree levels. For the 2013-14 year, Morgan County Schools average state funded professional educator salary ranked 55th in the state which indicates that it had one of the least experienced staff with LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AMONG THE DISTRICTS. Morgan Countys average state funded salary was only $39,922 compared to the state average of $42,329. Some of the other steps in the state aid funding formula are calculated as a percentage of the allowances for personnel. Because the personnel allowances for Morgan County are lower than most other districts based on the experience and educating levels of the staff employed, the allowances for fixed charges and the allowance for other current expenses and substitutes are also lower. The allowance for fixed charges covers certain employee benefit cost of the districts at a rate that varies each year depending on the rates being charged for social security, unemployment compensation and workers compensation. The fixed charges rate for the 2013-14 school year is 8.69%. The allowances for other current expenses ( i.e. operating cost such as utilities, maintenance, supplies, etc. ) is calucated as 10% of the allowances for personnel and the allowance for substitutes is 2.5% of the allowance for personnel. After the funding formual determines the total basic program allowance, it takes each districts regular levy property tax collections into consideration to determine the overall amount of state aid. Based on the assessed values in each county and using the regular levy rates set by the legislature, each districts local share of the total basic program allowance is determined. DISTRICTS WITH HIGHER ASSESSED VALUES AS DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY ASSESSOR WILL GENERATE MORE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, RESULTING IN A HIGHER LOCAL SHARE AND A LOWER AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDING. For the 2013-14 year Morgan County ranked 55th in total basic program allowance per pupil based on the various steps in the funding formula. However, Morgan County had the 18TH HIGHEST LOCAL SHARE PER PUPIL. The combination of the lowest basic program allowance and a top third local share per pupil resulted in Morgan County BEING RANKED 48TH OUT OF 55 DISTRICTS IN OVERALL STATE AID RECEIVED ON A PER PUPIL BASIS. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES: Districts are another word for counties. The next to last paragraph states that if we have less local tax we get more state aid. So ask yourself the question: Why would you want to pay higher taxes when the state funding formula will give us more if we have less local money. Actually we need to lower our basic property tax rate and even more help would come our way. The last paragraph states that Morgan County gets the 48th lease amount of state aid. Why ??? See reason above. The truth why the teachers want this levy passed is for their $1,900,000.00 bonus and benefit package. The citizens of this county should NOT have to pay for their dental and vision. They shouldnt get a bonus just for working in Morgan County. No other business in the county pays a bonus because you work here. Paragraph 2 saids to teachers: IF YOU WANT MORE MONEY GO BACK TO COLLEGE. I went slow so I hope I caught most of the typos. If I didnt it is what it is.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:20:13 +0000
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